Professor Liana’s reaction, caught somewhere between shock and disbelief, was somewhat expected.

After all, my response hadn’t been much different. I’d been pushed to the point where I was nearly losing consciousness, not just surprised.

"So…you’re saying that artifact called the Origin Egg from the Tower of Growth…hatched into this baby?"

[…Yes.]

"Oh my…"

A bit of time passed as I wrapped up the explanation. Professor Liana, seated on the couch opposite and listening calmly, let out a sigh heavy with mixed emotions.

“I knew something was unusual when you urgently requested my help, Cadet Lee Hayul, but I never imagined you’d come in carrying a baby…”

I never imagined it either.

Professor Liana, resting her forehead on one hand as if dizzy, looked up, blinking her green eyes a few times as she gazed at the child in my arms.

Specifically, at the rainbow-colored wings stretching from the baby’s back.

“Not just a human child, but a freshly hatched fairy… That’s truly astounding.”

[It reminded me of what you taught us about fairies, Professor.]

[Since you specialize in spirit magic, I thought you’d have some insight on this.]

The fact that an egg suddenly cracked open to reveal a baby was enough to drive me to the brink, and having that baby call me "Appa" (Dad) made my world feel like it was crashing down.

However, the fact that this child was likely a fairy made it even more complicated.

Unable to fully mask my mixed feelings, I gently touched the edge of the baby’s wings.

The rainbow-hued wings twitched slightly. Fortunately, there was no sign of discomfort or irritation. If anything, they seemed to flutter as if inviting more attention.

A soft purr came from around the baby’s chest.

After closely observing the baby, I’d figured out one thing: it seemed to enjoy it when I occasionally stroked the tips of its wings.

“Spirits and fairies have various interrelations, so I do know a little about fairies,” Professor Liana said, watching the baby with a curious gaze.

‘At least that’s some relief…’

I breathed an internal sigh of relief.

I’d expected the Origin Egg to just be a dud at most, but out came a baby.

Attached to the child’s back were wings that seemed fairy-like.

And now, this baby was cheerfully calling me “Appa”…

Thankfully, Professor Liana seemed to have some knowledge about fairies.

‘Where should I start?’

Even though I had sorted out some thoughts, there were still so many questions.

Fairies as a species rarely appeared in the original storyline.

In the third timeline, ‘Triad,’ I witnessed them officially during a visit to the Taesan Clan.

Then, in the eleventh timeline, ‘Diamond Warrior,’ while rummaging through the Taesan Clan…

Apart from that, I’d only occasionally encountered them in the wilderness or places untouched by human hands.

They were a rare sight in the original world as well, meaning there wasn’t much knowledge or information on them.

[I have many questions.]

[May I ask them?]

“Of course, I’ll be glad to help.”

A prompt answer.

“But before that.”

Just as I was about to proceed with my questions, Professor Liana raised a hand, signaling me to pause.

I straightened up, and Professor Liana closed her eyes with a contemplative expression.

Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, and her closed eyelids twitched slightly.

She seemed deep in thought.

“Before you ask, may I ask a few things first?”

Patiently, I waited as she opened one eye and posed her question.

It was a simple enough request. Her approach made me wonder if my explanation had been lacking.

I’d tried to summarize and get straight to the core points, but perhaps it hadn’t been enough?

[Certainly.]

[I’ll answer to the best of my knowledge.]

“Thank you. This is something I’ve been curious about for a while, and I feel it needs addressing.”

Professor Liana smiled slightly, clasped her hands, and rested her chin on them.

I nodded, sensing she was getting down to business.

Honestly, I didn’t feel much tension. I already knew Professor Liana wasn’t the type to be malicious or unreasonable.

I was confident she didn’t have harmful intentions with her questions.

And then—

“Cadet Lee Hayul, are you truly…human?”

[What?]

I’d just been hit with a rather direct insult, questioning my very humanity.

And from Professor Liana, of all people, normally so gentle and kind… I never expected such a remark from her.

My mind froze for a moment at her absurd suggestion, practically an attack on my very existence.

“…Why would you—? Ah… ah? Oh, no, no! Wait! I didn’t mean it like that!”

Seeing my stunned expression, Professor Liana blinked, seemingly realizing what she’d just said. Her eyes widened as if coming to a sudden realization, and she waved her hands in a flustered attempt to deny any offense.

“It’s not an insult! Really! I just meant it quite literally—I was asking about your species.”

[I apologize… If there’s something wrong, please tell me, and I’ll correct it.]

“No, no, that’s not what I meant…”

Professor Liana’s eyes spun, her expression clearly flustered.

. . .

“Sorry about that. I should have clarified right away…”

It didn’t take long to clear up the misunderstanding.

After her thorough explanation, I realized she genuinely hadn’t intended any insult. She’d just wanted to ask out of pure curiosity.

[I still don’t completely understand.]

[Could you explain further?]

“Of course… I’ll gladly do that.”

…And yet, her question remained puzzling.

She’d asked if I was truly human, almost as though I were of a different species entirely.

I couldn’t grasp the logic.

What reason did she have to suggest that I might not be human?

“As I’ve guided you since the beginning of the semester, Cadet Lee Hayul, I’ve noticed a few things I mentioned before.”

Sighing slightly, as if reliving a minor frustration, Professor Liana took a sip of coffee, seemingly to steady herself.

Then, this time determined not to repeat the earlier blunder, she began counting on her fingers as she explained.

“Firstly, your mana purity is unusually high.”

[I remember.]

“It’s exceptionally pure, even for pure mana.”

My mana was unusually pure, almost devoid of any impurities.

Though I hadn’t realized it back then, it’s now one reason my extended ability of ‘Assimilation’ is possible.

Its purity, untainted by external elements, allows it to blend easily with anything it touches.

Thus, I can mimic elemental or special innate powers through Assimilation.

“Secondly, you have a degree of spirit affinity that enables you to control spirits without a contract.”

Professor Liana continued her explanation.

“Do you remember? I told you in the spirit magic classes that fairy magic closely aligns with the natural elemental force.”

[I remember.]

“Spirits are lifeforms born of elemental energy, and fairies are particularly adept at handling spirits due to their species’ affinity with mana and its properties.”

[I remember.]

With that, Professor Liana waggled her fingers as if emphasizing her point.

“Your mana is remarkably pure, enabling you to convert it into something akin to elemental energy.”

[To some extent, yes.]

“And your affinity with spirits is so high that you can exert control without a contract, something normally limited to fairies.”

‘…’

I’d had an inkling earlier, but by now I could grasp what Professor Liana was driving at.

Mana purity, elemental energy, and affinity with spirits.

She emphasized each of these points, explaining with clarity.

Noticing my realization, she nodded.

“I suspected you might not be human, Cadet Lee Hayul. Perhaps you’re…a fairy?”

[Is that even possible?]

The necklace echoed a response filled with incredulity.

I understood why she might think I resembled…a fairy.

But I still couldn’t accept it.

I tilted my head in confusion.

[As far as I know, most fairies are very small.]

It was one reason I hadn’t fully believed this baby was a fairy.

The fairies I knew were all no larger than the palm of my hand.

While the baby’s wings did resemble those of a fairy, its size—about that of a normal infant—made it difficult to be certain.

“There are various kinds of fairies, each with differing sizes. Though many have hidden themselves from sight…” Professor Liana pointed to the baby in my arms.

“If the information from ancient texts is correct, this child could be a Fairy Knight—a guardian fairy.”

[A Fairy Knight?]

“Yes. Like a soldier ant, but of a much higher rank. A fully grown Fairy Knight would be about fourth-tier, comparable to an elite guard.”

[Fourth-tier?]

I looked down at the baby in my arms, who was now quietly playing with my hair.

Even though monsters stronger than this would appear later in the storyline, a fourth-tier being was still powerful enough to stand on par with top heroes or wipe out entire parties of high-ranked warriors.

A Fairy Knight… I’d never encountered one in the original. Did it simply not exist there, or had I just never discovered it?

“At first, I didn’t consider you to be a fairy, Cadet Lee Hayul,” Professor Liana said, shrugging. “Your mana purity was odd, but I just assumed you had some unique trait.”

She explained that her suspicions began with my affinity for spirits. “Handling spirits without a contract is something only fairies can do in my experience. At that point, it was merely a possibility.”

Her gaze shifted back and forth between me and the Fairy Knight in my arms.

“…But seeing all this… It feels possible.”

My mana purity, my affinity for spirits, and the Origin Egg revealing a Fairy Knight who instinctively followed me as a parent…

[I understand the similarities, but…]

After a pause to gather my thoughts, I tapped the necklace.

[Isn’t that too flimsy a reason to doubt my species?]

“Of course, I’m not completely certain. My knowledge of fairies isn’t exhaustive,” Professor Liana admitted, wiggling her fingers.

“But for the Origin Egg to produce a Fairy Knight, who then regards you as a parent…it does make it seem very plausible.”

The lengthy explanation concluded, leaving an awkward silence hanging in the lab.

‘…What is even happening?’

My face twisted in mixed feelings as I sank into the couch, feeling mentally and physically drained.

Back-to-back surprises were battering me without mercy.

A baby fairy hatching from an egg and calling me “Appa” was shocking enough.

But now, coming to seek advice, I was suddenly being questioned about my very species.

‘Then who are my parents?’

What about those who raised me? This doesn’t make sense. Can fairies even be born among humans? I come from a world where the concept of different species didn’t even exist!

“Now, feel free to ask anything, Cadet Lee Hayul. I’ll answer whatever I can!”

Seemingly understanding my confusion, Professor Liana smiled warmly, inviting my questions.

“Haa…”

The baby, who’d been curiously mouthing at nothing, yawned, looking drowsy.

Sleepiness was clearly taking hold, as it often does with infants.

Gently stroking the baby’s head, I asked the first question that came to mind.

[So…should I be getting it vaccinated?]

“...What?”

[Well, even though it’s a fairy, it’s still a baby, right? I thought it might need vaccinations…]

Professor Liana blinked, clearly not expecting that question.